This delicious Cajun shrimp pasta alfredo is a rich and savory pasta recipe with a homemade alfredo sauce, succulent shrimp, a zesty bold kick of Cajun seasoning, and fettuccine noodles for a flavor combination that is simply irresistible. An easy and delicious weeknight dinner recipe that feels anything but ordinary.
Any kind of pasta is always a winner, but pasta with creamy white sauce is a particular favorite of mine. I love the richness and flavor, and it’s so easy to toy with the seasonings to create different flavor profiles. That’s what I’ve been doing with this shrimp alfredo recipe for the past several years. I love spicy dishes as much as I love creamy pasta, so I combined the two to create this spicy cajun shrimp pasta alfredo. It’s rich, creamy, and spicy, and the fried shrimp on top adds tons of flavor and crispy texture. It’s the best seafood dish you’ll ever make!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta Alfredo
This dish begins with a rich, creamy alfredo sauce made with heavy cream and seasoned with bold spices like Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning and garlic powder. I cook it until it’s rich and thickened, then I mix it with al dente fettuccine noodles. finally, I coat the shrimp in a simple spice blend, fry them until golden and crispy, and top the alfredo with them. It’s a quick and easy seafood recipe that feel so much fancier than it really is!
Why You’ll LoveThis Cajun Shrimp Pasta Alfredo Recipe
- This delicious dish combines the creamy richness of homemade alfredo with bold and zesty flavors of Cajun seasoning.
- It’s surprisingly simple to make, and this dish offers restaurant-quality flavors, making it the perfect choice for an easy yet impressive meal.
- Shrimp and fettuccine are a classic and well-loved combination. With the addition of juicy, seasoned, succulent shrimp, this is a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy.
Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Ingredients
This recipe only uses a few simple ingredients. From the sauce to the shrimp breading, it’s all basic stuff!
- Large deveined shrimp
- Olive oil
- Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Fettuccine pasta noodles
- Butter
- All purpose flour
- Heavy whipping cream
- Reserved pasta water
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
How to Make Cajun Shrimp Pasta Alfredo
Making this recipe is so easy! it only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and when you’re all done, you’ll have a meal that will impress all your family and friends.
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Reserve half a cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Make the Alfredo Sauce
Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet or frying pan. Then, add the flour, stir, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and pasta water. Whisk until completely combined. Add the parmesan, salt, and pepper, and continue stirring until the cheese is melted and incorporated.
Step 3: Season the Shrimp
Add the shrimp, 1 teaspoon oil, Slap Ya Mama, and garlic powder to a large bowl and toss to coat evenly.
Step 4: Fry
Heat the remaining oil in a large pan, add the shrimp, and cook until opaque.
Step 5: Serve
Toss the sauce, noodles, and shrimp, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Be sure you cook your pasta to al dente and no further. The pasta should be firm but tender.
- Your shrimp is finished cooking when it’s opaque and shaped like a C.
- It will only take a couple of minutes per side to cook your shrimp. Adjust the time depending on how large the shrimp is.
Variations
- This dish can be made with shrimp, crab, lobster, prawns, or chicken.
- For a mild version of this recipe, omit the Cajun seasoning.
- For an even spicier dish, add some cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Any type of pasta will work, such as penne pasta, spaghetti noodles, linguini noodles, just to name a few.
What to Serve with Cajun Shrimp Pasta Alfredo
This is a rich, creamy dish loaded with pasta, so it’s a hearty meal all on its own. I recommend keeping things simple and serving it with roasted or steamed vegetables or a side salad. Of course, it’s always great with some garlic bread or breadsticks!
Recipe FAQ
Traditionally, fettuccine is the pasta of choice for alfredo sauce, although you can really mix this sauce with any noodle shape you desire.
Alfredo sauce is made with butter, flour, parmesan cheese, and either pasta water or cream. It can also be made with a mix of cream and pasta water.
Alfredo sauce is made with a roux of flour and butter to thicken the sauce. The initial thickening occurs as the roux simmers with the liquid. However, it will get even thicker as it cools.
Some excellent alfredo pairings include:
Roasted or steamed vegetables
Side salad
Garlic bread
Breadsticks
Yes, you can. This dish will last for about a month in the freezer when stored properly.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Cajun Shrimp Pasta Alfredo
Place this dish in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to one month in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat the pasta, place it in a saucepan with a bit of water or milk and cook over medium-low heat until heated through.
Try This Delicious Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Recipe Today
This creamy Cajun shrimp pasta alfredo is as easy to make as it is delicious, and you can never go wrong with that. With just a few ingredients and a few minutes of cooking, this is a dish that looks fancy but it is easy enough to serve any night of the week for dinner or at fancy occasions. There’s never a wrong time to make this pasta! Give it a try, and I know you’ll love it as much as I do.
More Delicious Pasta Dishes You’ll Enjoy
This Baked Bowtie Pasta is a hearty and delicious casserole recipe that is made with deliciously seasoned ground beef with a homemade sauce, farfalle pasta, and lots of cheese. A family favorite pasta dish.
Cajun Shrimp Pasta Alfredo
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tail removed
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 16 ounce Fettuccine pasta noodles
- ½ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 6 ounce Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions on packaging.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- In a large skillet or frying pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add flour, stir, and let cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in heavy cream and pasta water. Whisk until completely combined. Add Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Continue stirring until cheese is melted and completely incorporated.
For the Cajun Shrimp
- In a large bowl, add shrimp, 1 teaspoon oil, Slap Ya Mama seasoning, and garlic powder. Toss to coat evenly.
- In a large pan, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil. Add in shrimp and cook on both sides until opaque in color.
- Once everything is done, add sauce and shrimp to noodles and stir to mix well.
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